Crowd shows support as Seattle coffee shop reopens

Seattle Times

PARKLAND, Wash. — At 8:14 a.m. on the dot Saturday, Forza Coffee shop in Lakewood, Wash., turned on its open sign for the first time since four officers were killed there two weeks ago.

Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar emerged from inside, after purchasing the first cup of coffee, and along with Forza Coffee Company co-founder Brad Carpenter, thanked each and every one of the hundreds of people who braved the cold to help reclaim the coffee shop from the violence that occurred there.

Lakewood Police Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards died Nov. 29 after they were ambushed at 8:14 a.m. in the shop by Maurice Clemmons, who was later shot and killed by Seattle police.

Saturday morning, the crowd, which grew throughout the morning, included neighbors, friends and representatives from law- enforcement agencies as far away as Bellingham, Wash. Inside the cafe, about a half-dozen Lakewood officers sat at the table where their four colleagues were ambushed by Clemmons.

“We’re reclaiming this as a place for the community and for law enforcement,” said Lakewood Police Sgt. Mark Eakes.

Chief Farrar said he was overwhelmed by the amount of support, saying it helped bring home why he and his officers choose to work at a dangerous job.

The shop remained largely the same as it was before the shootings. Plans call for placing a plaque honoring the slain officers in all 22 Forza franchises, which are mostly in Pierce County, Wash.